"I'm Sorry I Bet On Baseball"

I found this baseball on Etsy while I was shopping around for baseball memorabilia. I know about the gambling situation with Pete Rose and his lifetime ban, but I wanted to read more about it. I still had a few questions about it.

It's an often-debated topic in sports. If he was just betting on his team to win, I wouldn't see an issue with it. Betting on your team to lose is a different story. That would, of course, involve attempting to throw the game, like what we saw in the Chicago "Black Sox" case of 1919. A question I had was, did Pete Rose ever bet against his team? I've had a hard time finding an answer to that, but I found this in a Bleacher Report article (I think it was BR):

[c=008099]"John Dowd says that time constraints prevented him from disclosing evidence that Rose not only bet on baseball, but bet against his own team."[/c]

Dowd was the lawyer who was hired to look into the case. If there is evidence, I would like to see it. I'm a fan of Pete Rose. Yes, he broke a rule that was clearly in place. Yes, he agreed to a lifetime ban so the MLB would look no further into the matter and release any findings. Yes... that's suspicious. This whole story reminds me of people who have criminal records of marijuana possession and usage, only a short time prior to the substance becoming legalized and/or more accepted by people (look into the more recent story of Pete Rose and the first legal bet in Ohio... and the smell of what is strikingly similar to hypocrisy that clings to it.)

Anyhow, I can't afford the baseball, so I went with a vintage catcher's mitt. 🙂 Why was the mitt cheaper than the ball? The signature, of course!

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BizSuitStacy · M

The Rose ban has always made me wonder, as I agree, the real sin would be betting against your team and throwing the game. As a manager, Rose had a .525 winning percentage, which is pretty good. I don't think it's possible for a manager to cause their team to lose games without the involvement of the players and other coaches. There is more to this story that we don't know.

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Tminus6453 · M

@BizSuitStacy Im talking about players who are ALREADY playing, if they are having an off night, or are just not that good of a player, the manager can leave them in or pull them early to throw the game..a tired pitcher can be left in and give up hits...sure its not guaranteed to lose the game but it puts them at a big disadvantage... managers can make a difference believe it or not

MarineBob · 56-60, M

@BizSuitStacy looking back many years I recall my coaches pep talk before the games, some he just knew we didn't have a chance

BizSuitStacy · M

@MarineBob And that's the difference...knowing the opponent is better and probably should win vs. making managerial decisions to ensure you lose.

MarineBob · 56-60, M

And now mlb is advocating for online betting

Eoghan · 31-35, M

@MarineBob Yes, and I doubt they'll ever lift the ban for Pete.

MarineBob · 56-60, M

@Eoghan our legislator refused mlb and cardinals a say unless the MLB reverses their decision on pete rose ....you cant have it both ways

graphite · 61-69, M

Now, MLB wants to put a team in Vegas, right next door to all the casinos.

Eoghan · 31-35, M

@graphite The Athletics, right? That situation is a mess.

graphite · 61-69, M

@Eoghan It's a terrible situation for A's fans.

Eoghan · 31-35, M

@graphite Yes, I've been reading comments online. The fans are upset about this. I love baseball, so I understand. I don't have any MLB teams nearby, but I live close to two MiLB teams.

robingoodfellow · M

I think Rose might be in the Hall by now if his attitude had been more contrite and honest. He denied the allegations for 15 years before coming clean, and even then it was all about selling a book where he admitted it and talked about it.
Regardless though, put this guy in the Hall before it's too late for him to see it. I saw him play, he was exciting as anyone who ever played the game. What he gave to baseball more than makes up for anything he took from it.

beaglehunter · 70-79, M

what do you think ted williams record would have been if he didnt spend his best years at war

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